Scotland has reached an ambitious emission reduction goal six years earlier than planned. Scottish officials recently announced that greenhouse gas emissions in 2014 were reduced by 46 percent of 1990 levels. In contrast with the goal of reducing emissions by 42 percent of 1990 levels by 2020, this is a great victory for the environment.

Greenhouse gas emissions contribute to climate change by trapping heat within the earth’s atmosphere. This excess heat is believed to be permanently changing the global landscape, causing rises in sea levels and changes in weather patterns. Should climate change continue at the current rate, cities could be inundated and entire species could be driven to extinction within our lifetime.

Global warming has been labeled one of the most important issues of our time. Most countries have recognized this and pledged to reduce their carbon footprints by setting emission reduction goals and joining international climate change treaties such as the Kyoto Protocol. While some countries are falling behind, Scotland has already exceeded its goal and is well below the U.K. average for emissions.

While this is great progress, the government of Scotland still has work to do. It was recently criticized for failing to meet separate carbon emission goals for the fourth year in a row. Sign the petition below to praise officials for meeting this goal and ask them to work to ensure that more climate goals, including an 80 percent reduction in total greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, are met.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Ms. Cunningham,

Scotland has recently announced that its goal of reducing emissions 42 percent of 1990 levels by 2020 was exceeded in 2014. New statistics show that the country has successfully reduced greenhouse gas output by 46 percent since 1990, and is currently sitting 11 percent below the U.K. emissions average. This is great news for Scotland and the environment as a whole, which is under serious threat of irreversible change due to climate change.

While this is a laudable achievement, Scotland must work to ensure that further goals, such as a plan to reduce emissions by 80 percent by 2050, are met. Furthermore, the country must work to meet carbon emission reductions laid out by the 2009 Climate Act. We, the undersigned, applaud your success on this particular goal and ask that you continue to work to reduce Scotland’s environmental footprint.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo credit: Cayetano

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